Penne Pasta
Penne is a tube-shaped pasta cut at an angle, ideal for holding thick sauces inside and out. It is one of the most versatile pastas in Italian cuisine, perfect for baked dishes and creamy sauces.
⏱️ Cooking Time: 12 minutes
🥘 Ingredients
- 500g penne
- 5 liters water
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt
👨🍳 How to Make
- 1
Boil water in a large pot with salt.
- 2
Add penne to boiling water all at once.
- 3
Stir during the first 2 minutes to prevent sticking.
- 4
Cook for 10-12 minutes on high heat.
- 5
Test a piece: it should be firm but cooked through.
- 6
Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
- 7
Immediately toss with your chosen sauce.
🔄 Cooking Variations
| Method | Time | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole wheat penne | 14 min | Whole wheat version takes 2-3 extra minutes and has more fiber. | |
| Baked penne | 30 min | Cook 8 min, mix with sauce and cheese, bake at 200C for 15-20 min. |
💡 Tips
- ✦ Penne shape is ideal for hearty sauces like bolognese and four cheese.
- ✦ For baking, cook 2 minutes less and finish in the oven.
- ✦ Do not break the pasta - it is already a practical eating size.
🧠 Did You Know?
The name "penne" comes from the Italian "penna" (quill pen), due to the diagonal cut resembling a pen tip.
There are two variations: penne lisce (smooth) and penne rigate (ridged), which holds sauce better.
🥗 Nutrition Info
A 100g serving of cooked penne contains about 131 kcal, 25g of carbohydrates, and 5g of protein. Similar values to spaghetti as the composition is the same.